This report gives the latest information on how Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in Victoria are faring according to a range of measures of health status and outcomes, determinants of health and health system performance. Indicators are based on the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Performance Framework. The report highlights the main areas of improvement and continuing concern.

ISBN: 978-1-74249-838-6

Cat. no: IHW 160

Pages: 278

Findings from this report:

The proportion of Indigenous women who smoke during pregnancy is 3 times that of non-Indigenous women

Indigenous Australians are more than twice as likely to be hospitalised for intentional self-harm

The gap in the low birthweight for babies born to Indigenous & other mothers decreased from 6.3% in 2001 to 5.8% in 2011

Large increase in Medicare recorded health assessments for Indigenous Australians

Summary

The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Performance Framework 2014 report for Victoria finds areas of improvement as well as areas of concern in the health of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people living in Victoria (Table S1).

Areas of improvement include:

There was a large increase in the rate of Medicare recorded health assessments for Indigenous Australians, from 9 per 1,000 in 2006-07 to 111 per 1,000 in 2013-14.

The gap in the low birthweight rate for singleton babies born to Indigenous and other mothers decreased from 6.3% in 2001 to 5.8% in 2011.

Other favourable results include:

The immunisation coverage rate for Indigenous children is slightly higher than for other children at age 5.

The gap in literacy and numeracy attainment between Indigenous and non-Indigenous students in Victoria is considerably smaller than at the national level.

The proportion of Indigenous women who smoke during pregnancy is lower in Victoria than nationally (38% compared with 49%).

Areas of concern include:

The proportion of Indigenous women who smoke during pregnancy is 3 times that of non-Indigenous women.

Indigenous mothers had lower rates of access to antenatal care in the first trimester of pregnancy (41% compared with 56% for non-Indigenous mothers).

The incidence of end-stage kidney disease for Indigenous Australians increased from 15 per 100,000 in 1997 to 29 per 100,000 in 2012, and is more than 4 times the rate among non-Indigenous Australians.

Indigenous Australians are almost 5 times as likely as non-Indigenous Australians to be hospitalised for injury and poisoning due to assault, and more than twice as likely to be hospitalised for intentional self-harm.

Unemployment rates for Indigenous Australians aged 15-64 continue to be higher for Indigenous than non-Indigenous Australians (19% compared with 4%).